Pro Tip: Build-Your-Own Fiesta Marinades (One Formula, Any Protein)

Pro Tip: Build-Your-Own Fiesta Marinades

One Formula, Any Protein

Winter doesn’t have to mean bland cooking. With our Flavor Fiesta box, you’ve got everything you need to turn weeknight proteins into “how is this so good?” meals—without measuring 14 ingredients or babysitting a complicated recipe.

This pro tip is all about a single, flexible approach you can repeat forever: one simple marinade formula + Flavor Fiesta products = bright, bold, grill-ready fiesta flavor on anything. Chicken thighs, skirt steak, shrimp, pork chops, veggies—this works. And if you run out of a product? No problem. You’ll also find cabinet spice substitutions at the end so you can keep the party going year-round.

The “Fiesta” Marinade Mindset: Balance Wins

The best marinades aren’t just “more flavor.” They’re balanced:

• Salt seasons the meat all the way through.
• Acid brightens, tenderizes, and keeps rich meats from feeling heavy.
• Fat carries flavor and helps browning (hello, beautiful char).
• Aromatics + spice bring depth and identity.
• Optional sweetness helps caramelization and balances heat.

Your Flavor Fiesta lineup nails these roles:

• Fiesta That Mexican Seasoning = savory base + warm spice
• Carnitas Grill & Wing Squeeze = citrusy tang + garlic + bold “slow-cooked” flavor
• Citrus Pucker Pepper Rub = bright citrus bite + cracked pepper finish
• Lane’s “Sorta White” Sauce = creamy, tangy contrast (great as a marinade booster or finishing sauce)

The One Formula

Fiesta Marinade Formula (Per 1–2 lb of protein)

• 2 Tbsp oil (olive, avocado, or neutral oil)
• 2 Tbsp acid (lime juice, lemon juice, or vinegar)
• 1 Tbsp Fiesta That Mexican Seasoning
• 1–2 Tbsp Carnitas Grill & Wing Squeeze
• ½–1 tsp Citrus Pucker Pepper
• Optional: 1 tsp honey or brown sugar (for caramelization, especially on chicken or pork)

Whisk it together in a bowl or shake it in a jar. That’s it. This combo gives you a savory-spiced foundation, bright citrus punch, and a clean peppery lift—while oil helps everything cling and brown fast over high heat.

Choose Your Style

1) Bright & Zesty (Taco Night Energy)

Best for: chicken breast, fish, shrimp, veggies

• 2 Tbsp oil
• 2 Tbsp lime juice
• 1 Tbsp Fiesta That
• 1 Tbsp Carnitas Squeeze
• ¾ tsp Citrus Pucker Pepper

Finish with: Lane’s Sorta White on the side for dipping/drizzling.

2) Smoky & Savory (Grill + Smoker Friendly)

Best for: pork, skirt steak, tri-tip, wings

• 2 Tbsp oil
• 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 Tbsp Fiesta That
• 2 Tbsp Carnitas Squeeze
• ½ tsp Citrus Pucker Pepper
• Optional: 1 tsp honey

Finish with: extra Carnitas Squeeze brushed on in the last few minutes.

3) Creamy & Tangy (Sorta White “Soaks In” Version)

Best for: chicken thighs, wings, pork chops, roasted potatoes

• 2 Tbsp Lane’s Sorta White
• 1 Tbsp oil
• 1 Tbsp lime juice or vinegar
• 1 Tbsp Fiesta That
• ½ tsp Citrus Pucker Pepper

This one clings like a dream and gives you a “sauced” finish even before you dip.

Marinade Timing (Don’t Overthink It)

• Chicken: 30 minutes to 6 hours
• Pork: 30 minutes to 8 hours
• Steak (skirt/flank): 20–60 minutes (don’t over-marinate)
• Shrimp/fish: 10–25 minutes (acid works fast)
• Veggies: 15–45 minutes (or toss and cook immediately)

Pro move: Even 15–20 minutes makes a difference—especially with Fiesta That + Carnitas Squeeze doing the heavy lifting.

How to Cook It (So It Tastes Like a Fiesta)

• Pat it dry before high heat: You want flavor on the meat, not excess liquid steaming it.
• Save sauce for finishing: Brush on Carnitas Squeeze near the end for shine and punch.
• Bring contrast at the table: Lane’s Sorta White adds cool, tangy balance—especially for smoky beef, thighs, and wings.

Quick Protein Guides

Chicken Thighs (Grill or Smoker)

• Marinade: Smoky & Savory or Creamy & Tangy
• Grill: 400–450°F, 5–7 minutes per side
• Smoker: 250°F until 165°F, then crisp skin over high heat
• Serve with: Sorta White

Skirt Steak

• Marinade: Bright & Zesty
• Time: 20–45 minutes
• Grill: hot and fast, 3–4 minutes per side
• Serve with: Sorta White for dipping

Pork Chops or Pork Tenderloin

• Marinade: Smoky & Savory
• Cook to: 145°F internal
• Finish: brush with Carnitas Squeeze in the last 2 minutes

Shrimp

• Marinade: Bright & Zesty
• Time: 10–15 minutes
• Cook: 2–3 minutes per side
• Finish: Citrus Pucker Pepper + a drizzle of Sorta White

Veggies

• Marinade: Bright & Zesty
• Cook: grill or roast
• Finish: Citrus Pucker Pepper at the end

Out of Flavor Fiesta? Cabinet Substitutions

If you’re out of Fiesta That Mexican Seasoning

• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp onion powder
• ½ tsp oregano
• ½ tsp salt (or to taste)
• Optional: pinch of cayenne or crushed red pepper

If you’re out of Carnitas Grill & Wing Squeeze

Replace with a quick “citrus-garlic booster”:

• 1 Tbsp lime or orange juice
• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp minced garlic (or ½ tsp garlic powder)
• Optional: ½ tsp smoked paprika

If you’re out of Citrus Pucker Pepper

• ½ tsp black pepper
• ½ tsp lemon pepper or ¼ tsp lemon zest + ¼ tsp orange zest
• Optional: pinch of citric acid if you have it

If you’re out of Lane’s Sorta White

Make a quick “white sauce” dip:

• ¼ cup mayo
• 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
• 1 tsp prepared horseradish (optional but awesome)
• Pinch of salt + black pepper
• Optional: pinch of Fiesta-style seasoning

The Takeaway

The point of Flavor Fiesta isn’t to make you follow a recipe like a science project—it’s to make your grill feel fun again: bold flavors, easy wins, and meals that taste like you planned them on purpose.

Memorize the formula: Oil + Acid + Fiesta That + Carnitas Squeeze + Citrus Pucker Pepper, then finish with Sorta White for the perfect cool, tangy contrast. One formula. Any protein. Fiesta every time.